Cited by 37Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Emotional dysregulation and health related quality of life in young adults with ADHD: A cross sectional study

Open access
Ben-Dor Cohen, Maayan, Eldar, Eran, Maeir, Adina, Nahum, Mor·2021·Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the role of ED in explaining the relationship between ADHD and HRQoL is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to do so in a sample of non-referred young adults with and without ADHD. METHOD: The study design was cross-sectional. A non-clinical sample of 63 young adults with ADHD (mean age = 24.86 years, SD = 3.25, 78% university students) and 69 gender-matched controls (mean age = 23.84 years, SD = 2.59, 89% university students) were recruited. The Adult ADHD Quality-of-Life scale was used to measure HRQoL; The Self-Report Wender-Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used to measure ED. Group differences on all measures were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance, while controlling for age. Finally, a moderation analysis was used in order to examine the impact of ED on HRQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: Both HRQoL and ED were significantly worse for the ADHD group compared to the control group. The medication status of the ADHD group participants had no significant effect on the level of ADHD symptoms, ED or HRQoL. ED moderated the effect of ADHD symptoms on HRQoL for the ADHD group. CONCLUSION: The findings support the centrality of ED in ADHD and its crucial influence on HRQoL. Young adults with ADHD and high levels of ED are at risk for aversive impact on their well-being regardless of their ADHD symptoms level.

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Crossref · 10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8

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  • ADHD with ED is associated with more severe quality-of-life dysfunction.

    “quality-of-life dysfunctioning (10)”
  • In women, comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders can obscure underlying ADHD or lead to misdiagnosis.

    “in women, the clinical picture is often complicated by comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders. These symptoms, being more “visible” to clinicians, can obscure underlying ADHD or lead to misdiagnosis”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [19]

    The Background and Discussion address emotional dysregulation in adults with ADHD, not whether anxiety or depression obscures ADHD in women. The Methods (Participants; page unavailable) exclude people reporting a psychiatric disorder. Searches for women, comorbid anxiety or depression, and misdiagnosis found no passage addressing the claim. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Adult females with ADHD may be underrecognized due to differing symptom presentations and co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression, leading to higher risk of misdiagnosis.

    “This neurodevelopmental disorder in adult females may be underrecognized due to differing symptom presentations, co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression, complicating the diagnostic process and leading to a higher risk of misdiagnosis”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [19]

    The Background identifies ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder, while the Discussion addresses emotional dysregulation and quality of life in young adults; neither addresses diagnostic recognition in adult females. Searches for female underrecognition, differing symptom presentations, anxiety or depression as diagnostic complications, and misdiagnosis found no passage supporting the attributed point (page numbers unavailable). (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [8]Stern A Maeir A Pollak Y Bonne O Malik E Maeir A The relationship between executive functions and quality of life in adults with ADHD J Atten Disord 2013 68 6 1087054713504133 24189201
  2. [52]Corbisiero S Mörstedt B Bitto H Stieglitz RD Emotional dysregulation in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-validity, predictability, severity, and comorbidity J Clin Psychol 2017 73 1 99 112 27153511

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Authors
Ben-Dor Cohen, M., Eldar, E., Maeir, A., & Nahum, M.
Affiliations
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
Venue
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published
2021-12
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
270-270
ISSN
1477-7525 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4200369242
Cited by
35
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4
FWCI
3.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
national institute for psychobiology in israel, hebrew university of jerusalem (104-18-19)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, emotional dysregulation, health-related quality of life, young adults, ADHD symptoms, ADHD medication, moderating effect, well-being
MeSH terms
Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Quality of Life, Research Design, Young Adult

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